UAE Space Agency celebrates third anniversary

The UAE Space Agency celebrated on Sunday its third anniversary in an official ceremony in Abu Dhabi.

The event highlighted initiatives and programmes that have contributed to wide success in its mission to organise and lead space activities in the UAE.

The ceremony was held under the patronage ofDr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency; Space Agency board members; and Dr. Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency.

Al Falasi acknowledged that the UAE Space Agency has become the largest agency in the region to oversee a modern space programme. This has been made possible thanks to the relentless efforts of Emiratis seeking to further establish the UAE within the global space sector, among peers with advanced space programs that are overcoming the challenges of exploring and utilizing space.

He said:“Since its inception, the Space Agency has been able to realise numerous significant achievements and successes through a clear framework and approach inspired by directives from a visionary leadership. As such, the Agency now holds a notable position among international space agencies, and enjoys the respect of regional and international space organisations.”

Al Falasi added that the Agency has become a model and a standard for countries seeking to launch ambitious space programmes and agencies. He noted that the Agency is leading implementation of government strategies to develop an integrated system for this vital industry, which will in turn contribute to other key sectors of the national economy.

He also underlined that the UAE Space Agency today stands at the start of a new chapter that will bring innovative initiatives to the National Space Program that contribute towards its ambitious goals.

Al Falasi said: “These efforts require all employees of the Space Agency in particular, and national space sector and industry more broadly, to work together towards these mutual objectives. They also require enhancing current and future industry capabilities, including fostering space research and development centres and further developing advanced capacity building programmes.

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